August 27, 2013

Cowboys make it official: Jay Ratliff will miss at least first six games after going on PUP

Jay Ratliff will miss at least the first six games as he continues his rehab from groin and hamstring injuries. The Cowboys placed the defensive tackle on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

It was one of 12 moves the Cowboys made Tuesday to reach the 75-player limit.

Though not unexpected, the Cowboys' move on Ratliff was the news of the day. He isn't eligible to return until Oct. 14, and the Cowboys then have a three-week window to activate him.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones was asked earlier Tuesday if Ratliff will play for the Cowboys this season.

"I feel confident that he will," Jones said. "I believe in Jay. I think he’s a competitor. I think there’s some things that can be frustrating when you have injuries. Jay has a real injury. Those things happen. I’m convinced that we’ve got a program now -- he’s had a few setbacks -- that hopefully will put him on the road where he can play for us at some point this season."

Ratliff was rehabbing from off-season hernia surgery when he hurt his hamstring during the team's conditioning test July 20. Ratliff missed all of training camp, other than a couple of teaching sessions.

The four-time Pro Bowler missed 10 games last season with various injuries. He had plantar fasciitis in the 2012 off-season, sprained his ankle in the preseason and then needed surgery late in the season to repair a sports hernia, which put him on injured reserve.

His sack totals have decreased five consecutive seasons, including no sacks in 2012.